Tension devices for belts



Nov. 12, 1957 M. F. GREEN TENSION: DEVICES FOR BELTS Filed June 18, 1954 mwzzvron RJORIE E GREEN HER HTTORNEY n nlm I) United States Patent TENSION DEVICES FOR "BELTS Marjorie F. Green, New York, N. Y. Application June 18, 1954, Serial No. 437,799

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-163) This invention relates to tension devices for belts such as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,651,825.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved tension device which is composed of one piece having a buckle-engaging finger or hook and a yieldable belt-engaging tongue or plate to increase the frictional engagement of the free end of the belt between the frame of the buckle and the tension plate.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment in operative position on a belt.

Fig. v2 is'a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank of the tensioning device shown in Fig. 1 before being bent into final shape; and Fig. 4 is a perspective of the same after having been bent into final shape.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank of a tensioning device made according to the second embodiment; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the same after having been bent into final shape.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank of a tensioning device made according to the third embodiment; and Fig. 8 is a perspective of the same after having been bent into final shape.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the tensioning device consists essentially of a sheet 1 having two incisions 2 and 3 to form the tongue 4 which, see Fig. 4, is bent back under the intermediate web portion 5 to extend under the tension plate 6 which is formed by the U-shaped incision 7 consisting of the two side incisions 8 and 9 and the intermediate incision 10, the incisions 8 and 9 preferably being spaced from one another a greater distance than the space between the incisions 2 and 3 of the tongue 4.

When positioned on a belt buckle, such as the buckle 11, having a rectangular frame 12 composed of two side bars 13 and 14, two end bars 15 and 16 and an intermediate cross bar 17, to which cross bar 17 one end 18 of the belt 19 is captured, the tongue 4 forming a hook with the intermediate web portion 5, grips the captured end 18 of the belt secured to the cross bar 17 with the tension plate 6 extending up into the area between the four bars 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the buckle 11, to exercise pressure on the free end 20 of the belt 19 threaded under the end bar 16 over the tension plate 6 and then under the other end bar 15 of the buckle 11.

Although for ordinary uses the tongue 4 alone is relied upon to secure the sheet 1 of the tension device to the buckle 11, in some cases a rivet 21 may extend through the opening 22 formed in the sheet 1 positioned outwardly of the incision 10 and into the belt 19 adjacent the captured end 18.

The embodiment disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 differs primarily from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4,

2,812,564 Patented Nov. 12, 1957 ICC inclusive, inthat while the tongue 23 is bent under the intermediate web. portion 24, the U-shaped frame 25 constitutingthe tension plate is bent back above the intermediate web portion24. This embodiment is also provided with anopening 26 to receive a rivet.

The embodiment disclosed inFigs. 7 and 8"in turn differs primarily from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in that the tongue 27 is merely depressed downwardly below the intermediate web portions 28 and 29, and the web portion 30 is bent over the intermediate webportions 28 and 29. The opening 31 formed in the web portion 30 is provided primarily to facilitate forming the tongue 27 when bending the same into position. This embodiment is also provided with an opening 32 to receive a rivet.

Excellent results have been achieved when these several embodiments were composed of metal such as spring steel. Obviously, without departing from the spirit of the invention, these embodiments could also be composed of substantially rigid plastic material.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tensioning device for a belt buckle having an open frame including two side bars, a front end cross bar and a rear end cross bar of substantially the same thickness relative to one another, and an intermediate cross bar less in thickness than the thickness of said side and end cross bars parallel to said end cross bars and extending between said end cross bars within the outer faces of said side and end cross bars and adapted to receive the captured end of a belt secured around the intermediate cross bar, the combination of a one-piece sheet unit having a main plate portion including a front end, a rear end and an intermediate web portion, a yieldable plate portion extending outwardly from said main plate portion and toward the rear end of said main plate portion, and a tongue extending down from and back under said main plate portion and then toward the'rear end of said main plate portion across the lower face of said intermediate web portion, said tongue, the lower face of said intermediate web portion and the lower face of said main plate portion between said intermediate web portion and the rear end of saidmain plate portion gripping the belt covered cross bar, and the upper face of said yieldable plate portion and the upper face of said main plate portion between said intermediate web portion and the front end of said main plate portion engaging the portion of the belt threaded under the two end cross bars and such free end threaded over the yield able plate portion, such yieldable plate portion substantially filling the space between'the two end cross bars and deflecting the threaded portion of the belt upwardly and pinching said threaded portion of the belt between one of said end cross bars and the front end of said main plate portion and between the other of said end cross bars and the rear end of said yieldable plate portion, the rear end of said main plate portion extending beyond said yieldable plate portion to overlap said rear end cross bar, the outline of said yieldable plate portion being a U-shaped incision with the legs of said U-shaped incision parallel to the sides of the main plate portion.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said yieldable plate portion and said tongue are bent from said main plate portion, the outline of said tongue being two parallel incisions extending from the front end of said main plate portion, with said two parallel incisions parallel to the sides of the main plate portion, and said main plate portion having an opening therein to 3 4 receive a rivet for securing the tensioning device to the 1,744,196 Ames Jan. 21, 1930 captured end of the belt, 1,745,548 Lerner Feb. 4, 1930 1,918,115 Luft July 11, 1933 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,651,825 Gr n Sept. 15, 1953 1 6 2,690,601 Van Buren Oct. 5, 1954 670 502 l E STATES PATEN'I; 26 1901 2,720,689 Maher Oct. 18, 1955 n erson at. 1,192,552 Nettleton July 25, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,739,057 Bock Dec. 10, 1929 17,096 Great Britain 1895 

